MetLife (NYSE:MET) Upgraded at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of MetLife (NYSE:MET) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of MetLife from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Piper Sandler lifted their price target on shares of MetLife from $85.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 2nd. TD Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of MetLife from $97.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 27th. Jefferies Financial Group upped their price objective on MetLife from $89.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, September 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of MetLife from $92.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $88.62.

MetLife Stock Up 0.5 %

MET stock opened at $82.21 on Wednesday. MetLife has a one year low of $64.61 and a one year high of $89.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.16 and a current ratio of 0.16. The company has a fifty day moving average of $82.90 and a 200-day moving average of $78.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $56.92 billion, a PE ratio of 16.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.06.

MetLife Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 5th were paid a dividend of $0.545 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, November 5th. This represents a $2.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.65%. MetLife’s payout ratio is 43.95%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of MetLife by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 9,464 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $781,000 after acquiring an additional 123 shares during the period. Abacus Planning Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of MetLife by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Abacus Planning Group Inc. now owns 12,301 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,015,000 after buying an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA increased its position in MetLife by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA now owns 16,675 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $1,375,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Avestar Capital LLC lifted its stake in MetLife by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. Avestar Capital LLC now owns 4,264 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $352,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its position in MetLife by 2.0% in the third quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 6,984 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $576,000 after buying an additional 136 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.99% of the company’s stock.

MetLife Company Profile

MetLife, Inc, a financial services company, provides insurance, annuities, employee benefits, and asset management services worldwide. It operates through six segments: Retirement and Income Solutions; Group Benefits; Asia; Latin America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa; and MetLife Holdings. The company offers life, dental, group short-and long-term disability, individual disability, pet insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, vision, and accident and health coverages, as well as prepaid legal plans; administrative services-only arrangements to employers; and general and separate account, and synthetic guaranteed interest contracts, as well as private floating rate funding agreements.